Kogui
They call themselves KággabaThey live in the upper reaches of the northern slope of the Sierra. They are the people you will meet most often on the way to Teyuna: their villages of round houses stand right beside the trail.
Indigenous culture of the Sierra Nevada
The heart of the world
That is what the peoples who live here call the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Teyuna, the Lost City, is one of their sacred places. This page tells you who lives here and how to visit them with respect.
Who lives here
The four indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada
The Kogui, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo descend from the Tayrona, who built Teyuna. They see themselves as guardians of the balance of the Sierra. In 2022 UNESCO recognised their ancestral system of knowledge as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Wiwa
Eastern and northern slopesThey share the Buritaca river basin with the Kogui. Several camps and sections of the trail lie within their territory.
Arhuaco
They call themselves IkuThey live mainly on the southern slope of the Sierra. They are known for their woven mochila bags and for the defence of their territory.
Kankuamo
South-eastern slopeThey live near Valledupar. They are the people who had the most contact with colonial society, and today they are working to recover their language and traditions.
Culture texts to be reviewed with a member of the community before publishing to be confirmed
History
Teyuna through time
To the world it was a discovery in 1975. To the peoples of the Sierra it was never lost.
AD 600–800
The Tayrona build itMore than 200 stone terraces, paths and stairways above the Buritaca river, some 650 years before Machu Picchu.
16th century
The jungle covers itAfter the arrival of the Spanish, the city is left uninhabited. The peoples of the Sierra continue to visit it.
1975
The world learns of itNews of the site reaches the authorities, and its study and restoration begin.
Today
Teyuna Archaeological ParkIt is managed by ICANH, the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History. It remains a sacred site where ceremonies are held, which is why it closes for a few days every year.
Your part
How to visit with respect
1
Ask before taking photos
Of people, children and homes. If the answer is no, put your camera away with a smile.
2
Look, don’t touch
Don’t move stones, don’t enter the ceremonial houses and don’t take anything from the trail.
3
Lower your voice on the terraces
Teyuna is a place of ceremony. Listen to your guide and walk where they show you.
4
Buy from the people who make it
The mochila bags and bracelets you see along the trail are woven by local families.
5
Leave no trace
Carry all your rubbish back down and use soap and repellent away from the rivers.
6
Don’t give sweets or money
If you want to help, ask your guide about the best way to do it.
Your trip gives back
Every booking includes the park entrance fee and a contribution to the communities of the Sierra.
How much reaches them and what it is used for to be confirmed
Along the trail you will find
- Villages of round houses with palm-thatched roofs, right beside the trail.
- Families walking up and down the same path as you.
- The story of the Tayrona, told by your guide on the terraces.
- A meeting with the community along the route to be confirmed